Zhou Qiqi had something on her mind, and she woke up just as dawn was breaking the next day.
However, when I woke up, the seat next to me was still empty.
On the dining table in the outer room, there was an aluminum lunchbox covered with something warm: millet porridge and steamed buns that Shen Huaichuan had brought back from the cafeteria.
He left a note saying that he was busy at the end of the year and had to go to the military region first.
Shen Huaichuan was always like this, getting up earlier than anyone else and making sure everything was arranged before leaving.
With the military region's grand competition just around the corner at the end of the year, he had taken a week off to accompany her back to Xujia Village to deal with that mess, and now he definitely had to work overtime to catch up on the training he had missed.
Looking at his strong and powerful handwriting, Zhou Qiqi felt a warmth in her heart.
She quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face, ate breakfast with Zhouzhou, and watched Zhouzhou go to school with her little schoolbag before she finally took out her Phoenix brand old bicycle.
I hadn't ridden out of my house for long when I heard a clear bicycle bell and a warm greeting from behind.
"Qiqi! Wait for me!"
Zhou Qiqi turned around and saw Lei Yuhua, who was wearing a dark blue cotton-padded jacket and pedaling hard to catch up.
"Sister Yuhua?"
Zhou Qiqi slowed down and waited for her to walk alongside her.
"Oh! What a coincidence! I run into you! Are you going to the city too?"
Lei Yuhua caught up, took a breath, and smiled.
Zhou Qiqi had actually seen her a long time ago; she was parked in an alley not far away. The Lei family wasn't in that direction, so it was quite a "coincidence."
However, one shouldn't hit a smiling face, so Zhou Qiqi simply smiled and replied, "Yes, to the city."
Seeing that she didn't say anything, Lei Yuhua's eyes shone even brighter, and she immediately started chatting about everyday things.
"We got back too late yesterday, so I stayed at my parents' place for the night. I'm going to work today, and I'll be going back to my little home in the city tonight. It'll be hard for us to bump into each other like this again!"
Her tone carried a genuine sense of regret, clearly showing that she truly liked Zhou Qiqi and was reluctant to miss the opportunity to spend time with her.
Zhou Qiqi simply nodded and didn't respond to the question.
After all, the other party was Zhou Shuhua's daughter. She couldn't say she liked her, but she didn't need to be rude. She still had to show basic courtesy.
Lei Yuhua didn't feel embarrassed and started talking about her own things.
"The city's year-end performance is a big task! In previous years, our military region's cultural troupe always won first place, but unfortunately, this year you designed the stage and costumes for the city's cultural troupe, which has created a strong competitor for us! I have to work harder and think of other ways to hold onto first place!"
When she talked about work, her eyes shone with a fierce determination, which improved Zhou Qiqi's impression of her.
The two rode their bikes side by side, chatting casually.
The morning sunlight slanted down and fell on Zhou Qiqi.
Lei Yuhua's gaze was immediately drawn to the coat she was wearing.
The coat was made of thick, sturdy material, and its bright red color resembled a dancing flame in the bleak late autumn, yet it did not appear gaudy at all; instead, it had a sophisticated feel to it.
The style is also unique. Unlike the bulky cotton coat she's wearing, this one has clean lines, straight shoulders, and a large lapel that makes her look particularly energetic. The waist is also perfectly fitted.
Wearing this coat, Zhou Qiqi looked like a full and beautiful red rose.
"Qiqi, your coat..."
Lei Yuhua stared wide-eyed, unable to contain her admiration.
"Did you make this for yourself again? It's such a compliment! The color and the design are so beautiful!"
She wanted one too, but knowing that it was Zhou Qiqi's "custom-made" item, she wasn't so shameless as to ask her to make one for her as well.
Zhou Qiqi looked down at her coat, a smile playing on her lips.
"I didn't make this myself. It's a new 'Guanghua' series double-faced wool coat from the factory."
She paused, then added, "If you want it, you should be able to buy it at the city department store in a couple of days."
"Two-sided?"
Lei Yuhua had never heard of this term before. She just thought the coat looked high-end, and on Zhou Qiqi, it made her look even more beautiful than the models in the magazine.
The two stopped at an intersection. Lei Yuhua looked at it again and again, and couldn't help but reach out and touch it.
"The name is lovely, 'Guanghua,' which really suits this material. It even seems to shimmer with a fine sheen in the sunlight! It looks thick, but it feels soft and light. It must be warm and comfortable to wear, right? It's so much better than this old cotton-padded coat I'm wearing!"
Lei Yuhua's interest escalated further: "Are there any other colors?"
She's short and doesn't really like bright red, finding it too overwhelming.
"Yes, there are royal blue, dark green, and pale yellow, plus the bright red I'm wearing, making a total of four colors."
Zhou Qiqi was pleased to hear Lei Yuhua's praise, and a slight smile appeared on her lips as she turned her head to carefully examine Lei Yuhua.
She was petite, with fair skin, jet-black hair tied in two thick braids, and exuded a spirited and capable air that immediately reminded her of yellow forsythia.
"The pale yellow one should suit you well. You have good skin, and pale yellow makes your skin look fair and bright. It also matches your personality."
Lei Yuhua was overjoyed by her words, and her face beamed with happiness:
"Really? Qiqi, if you say it's good, then it must be great! Okay! When we get to the department store, the first thing I'll buy is that light yellow one! I'll definitely support you!"
The two chatted as they walked, and soon they reached the intersection leading into the city. Lei Yuhua was heading towards the military arts troupe, which was a different route from Zhou Qiqi's clothing factory.
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